No one is forgotten.
In Quang Tri province , there are 157 Martyrs' Cemeteryes, including two national-level Martyrs' Cemeterys: the Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery and the Duong 9 National Martyrs' Cemetery, where tens of thousands of remains of martyrs who died on the Truong Son and Duong 9-Southern Laos routes are gathered and buried, and which are well-known to many people.
But few people know that, about 100 years ago, in the 19th century, on the land of Quang Tri, there was a gathering of the remains of Tay Son soldiers who died in the swift victory against 300,000 Qing troops. The remains were brought from Hanoi and buried in a small village called Thach Han, next to Quang Tri Ancient Citadel. That place is called the "Thach Han Martyrs' Cemetery," where Nguyen Dynasty governor Hoang Huu Xung (from Bich Khe village, Ai Tu commune today) gathered and buried the remains on land his father bought to bury unclaimed graves.
That "special cemetery" is half for the homeless and destitute souls of the people who followed Lord Nguyen in the early days of expanding the territory, and the other half for the nameless soldiers of the Tay Son army, who wore simple clothes and carried red banners. Since then, the descendants of the Hoang family in Bich Khe village have continued to care for and offer incense at the graves in this cemetery, believing that if the remains of the Qing army that invaded our country were gathered and buried at Dong Da Hill, then the soldiers in simple clothes who sacrificed themselves for the country deserve even more respect.
In 2010, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province signed a decision recognizing Thach Han Cemetery as a historical and cultural relic. To this day, not only descendants of the Hoang family take care of the ancestral worship, but many people also come to offer incense during festivals and holidays.
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| Youth union members and young people take care of the Martyrs' Cemetery in Hieu Giang commune - Photo: NTH |
In the sacred land of Quang Tri, showing gratitude and caring for cemeteries and memorials to fallen soldiers has long been a tradition. Many families and clans have a way of "reporting their achievements" by offering incense at these cemeteries when their children or grandchildren achieve success, before going away to work, or on holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), and the first journey of the year... This gratitude is not boisterous, but persistent. Beyond giving gifts and providing healthcare, people also express their sincere and touching gratitude in many ways, such as: sharing a New Year's Eve meal with the mothers of fallen soldiers, participating in memorial services for fallen soldiers, cleaning gardens and memorial sites... to help alleviate the grief of the fallen soldiers' relatives and ensure that no one is forgotten.
Let friendship become a driving force for development.
In Quang Tri province, there are currently over 35,000 people who have rendered meritorious services and relatives of martyrs receiving monthly preferential policies. Over the years, Quang Tri province has implemented the preferential policies for those who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution correctly, fully, and promptly, and has done a good job of caring for the eternal resting places of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives and lie buried on this land.
In many localities, commemorative activities go beyond familiar forms, ensuring that revolutionary traditions continue to flow, present in the daily lives and behaviors of the people and those responsible for maintaining these memorial sites. The people of Quang Tri, having experienced the suffering of war, deeply understand the value of peace and community spirit, enabling them to live better in the present.
As a land deeply rooted in camaraderie and solidarity with comrades, fellow citizens nationwide, and international friends, the Party Committee and government of Quang Tri province have always considered the work related to wounded soldiers, martyrs, and those who have rendered meritorious service to the revolution as a key and ongoing political task. They have directed its implementation, achieving many positive results and contributing to improving the material and spiritual lives of those who have rendered meritorious service to the revolution. Maintaining the flame of gratitude and upholding revolutionary traditions is the foundation for strengthening the people's trust in the Party and the State. It is also a time when the strength of national unity is nurtured, reminding each person to live more worthily of the sacrifices of their ancestors and of this land that has endured so much sacrifice.
Director of the Department of Internal Affairs, Le Thi Thanh, shared that the peace we are living in did not come about by chance. Today's peace was bought at an extremely high price, paid for with the blood and bones of the nation's outstanding sons and daughters who bravely fought and sacrificed, and for those who carry the scars and painful memories of war throughout their lives.
“Let's love our country starting with gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives and blood for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for the happiness of the people, living more responsibly towards the community, and contributing more. That is a journey of extending gratitude, the deepest appreciation to be worthy of those who chose to sacrifice themselves and rest in the land of Quang Tri so that the homeland and country can develop, prosper, and be happy,” Director of the Department of Internal Affairs Le Thi Thanh urged.
Khanh Ngoc
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202603/giu-lua-an-tinh-c75762a/
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